Buoy.



T. MATTHEWS.

BUOY.

APPLICATION FILED DBO.18,1909,

977,959. Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

.'I. MATTHEWS.

BUOY.

APPLIUATION FILED DBo.1s,19o9.

977,959. Patented new, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

THOMAS MATTHEWS, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

l BUOY.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patentedk Dec. 6, 1910.

Application led December 18, 1909. Serial No. 533,871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS MATTHEWS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Buoys, of which the fol-v lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to buoys, the object in View being to provide a buoy especially designed for the purpose of marking the place where a vessel sinks and also containing important data such as the items usually recorded in the log-book together with any notes, colnmunications or valuable property of passengers on the vessel. e

A further object of the invention is to provide a buoy of such construction as to enable articles of the class above referred to to be introduced into the interior of the buoy while preventing their extraction therefrom without showing that the buoy has been opened for the purpose of obtaining access to the contents thereof.

lVith the above and other objects in View, the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as herein fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings z-Figure 1 is a vertical diametrical section through a buoy constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view on an enlarged scale taken through the head of the buoy. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the upper edge of the main body of the buoy with the upper cap section detached.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the body of the buoy, the upper portion of which is of frusto-conioal shape while the lower portion 2 thereof is substantially hemispherical and Vcontains within it a molded ballast block 3 which is preferably secured in place by means of an eye bolt f1, the eye 5 of which is arranged exteriorly of and beneath the bottom of the buoy.

Within the body of the buoy is arranged at a suitable elevation a deck 6 adapted to support the various articles placed therein an entrance to which may be effected by means of a port-hole 7 in one side thereof.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be observedy that the body 1 is provided at its upper edge with a gasket flange 8 which is rabbeted as shown at 9 to receive an annular gasket 10 preferably round in cross section. The upper end of the body 1 is closed by means of a hemispherical cap section 11 which is provided at its lower edge with a gasket iange 12 having a half round groove l13 to receive the projecting portion of the gasket 10, referred to. The cap 11 is hinged to the main body 1 of the buoy as shown at 14 and is provided at its opposite side with a spring catch 15 adapted to snap into engagement with the keeper 16 on the body 1 when the cap 1s closed, thus preventing the accidental opening of the cap section.

17 designates a cap closing spring, one end of which 1s secured to the body 1 at the fixed point 18, while the other end of the spring is secured to the inner end of Van eye bolt 19, the eye 20 of which is arranged exteriorly of and above the cap section 11. The spring 17 acts to snap the cover section closed after it has been lifted for the purpose of introducing any articles therein.

On one side, the buoy is provided with a suitable number of clamps 21 adapted to receive the staif 22 of a signal 23 such as a iag which designates the buoy .as marking a sunken vessel. Connected to the eye 5 at the bottom of the buoy is a line 24 preferably consisting of a copper wire of suitable length which is wound upon a reel 25 and secured at one end to said reel so as not to become detached therefrom. This reel is adapted to be mounted upon the deck of a vessel and anchored in any way tothe deck and the buoy is also arranged upon the deck of the vessel so that in case the vessel sinks the buoy will float upon the surface of the water and will cause an unreeling of the line 24 until the vessel reaches the bed of the A body of water.

The buoy is adapted to contain the log notes of the officer of the watch containing the statement of the latitude and longitude, the course of the vessel and general conditions and is also adapted to contain notes or communications, wills and the like as Well as valuables of passengers on the vessel, so that such materlal may be picked up by a vessel sighting the buoy.

I claim A buoy for the purpose specified comprising a hollow floating body embodying a hemispherical bottom portion and a correspondingly shaped ballasting lining in said base, an elevated deck within the body, av

reel having a line wound thereon with one end connected to the reel and the ,other end connected to the buoy body and a hollow hemispherical cap section hin ed to the main body of the buoy, a. sprin or closing said cap section, aspring cate for holding the ca section closed and an annular gasket of cy indrical shape in cross section seated in semi -cylindrical grooves in the abutting In testimony7 whereof I aix my signature 'in presence o two witnesses.

THOMAS MATTHEWS.

AWitnesses:

THOMAS J. DiuscoLL, A. C. MCAULITFE. 

